Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 vs Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050
vs
Quick take: The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 costs $100 less; the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 offers more cooking space (1,050 vs 800 sq in).
| Spec | Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 | Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$900 | ~$1,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (1,800) | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 800 sq in | 1050 sq in |
| Max Temp | 700°F | 700°F |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Insulated Steel with Reversible Cast Iron Grates |
| Hopper Capacity | 16 lb | 15.9 lb |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 53 x 33 x 50 in | 60.6 x 31.9 x 52.2 in |
| Weight | 146 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800
- ✓It gives you real charcoal flavor with set-and-forget digital convenience - the fan-driven controller holds temp automatically like a pellet grill but burns lump or briquettes
- ✓It's wildly versatile, going from a 225°F low-and-slow smoke to a 700°F sear, and the included griddle insert turns it into a flat-top
- ✓The gravity-fed hopper holds up to ~16 lbs of briquettes for roughly 8+ hours of unattended cooking
- ✓The digital controller and Masterbuilt app let you set and monitor temps and probe alerts from your phone
- ✓It reaches genuine searing temps that pellet grills can't, so steaks and burgers get a real crust
- ✓800 sq in of cooking space plus the griddle option make it a true do-it-all charcoal cooker
- ✓At ~$650 it's a lot of capability and charcoal flavor for the money versus separate grill and smoker
- ✓It heats up fast - charcoal lights and reaches temp quicker than a traditional charcoal smoker
- ✗Reliability is the big knock - the control board, fan, and temperature sensors are known to fail, sometimes within the first year
- ✗The thin sheet-metal body and gaskets leak and wear, so many owners reseal it to hold temps and protect the electronics
- ✗The 1-year warranty is short for a $650 cooker with so many failure-prone electronic parts
- ✗It still needs power for the fan and controller, so it's not a true off-grid charcoal cooker
- ✗Ash and charcoal management is messier than a pellet grill, and the hopper/firebox area needs regular cleaning to run right
- ✗Smoke flavor, while real charcoal, can be lighter than a traditional offset unless you add wood chunks to the hopper or ash bin
- ✗The app and WiFi can be glitchy, dropping the connection mid-cook like many smart grills
- ✗Rain and moisture can wreak havoc on the electronics and charcoal, so it really needs a cover and dry storage
Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050
- ✓1,050 sq in over three tiers takes four pork butts or a dozen rack-of-ribs slabs without a second cooker
- ✓The full 225–700°F span means one cooker does overnight brisket and Saturday steaks
- ✓DigitalFan control on charcoal is the closest thing to a pellet grill's convenience with a real charcoal smoke profile
- ✓App tracks four meat probes and lets you change set temperature without walking outside
- ✓Reversible cast iron grates and a removable ash bucket are standard, not upgrades
- ✓At $1,000 it undercuts comparable-area premium pellet grills by several hundred dollars
- ✗The 15.9 lb hopper is actually smaller than the 600's 17.6 lb — more area to heat on less fuel, so long cooks need a hopper top-up
- ✗60.6 inches wide is a large footprint for a patio, and 196 lbs means it stays where you build it
- ✗Charcoal chute bridging and ash blockage are the known nuisance of this design and need periodic clearing
- ✗1-year warranty on a cooker where the fan, controller and gaskets are consumable parts
- ✗Still needs mains power, so it is a charcoal cooker that will not run off-grid